Gaara and Sakura put on their clothes, ignoring their packs in favor of a bath first. Gaara smiled as Sakura opted to go barefoot. She took his hand and tugged him along happily before he could put his shirt on. He followed her laughing down the hall to the right. Gaara let himself be pulled by her.

He grinned when she opened the door. It was like a hot spring. He smiled at Sakura and held her hand, “I love you.” She brought his hand up to her lips, kissing the mounds of his hands, “I love you more.”

The two stripped quickly and settled into the large tub. Gaara relaxed and sunk up to his ears. He waded over to her slowly and she pushed down his swatch of red hair. He spouted up, sputtering, and stuck his tongue out at her. She splashed him and ducked as he guided the water over her head. She looked at him, naked, wet and flushed and smiled at him.

Gaara waded back to the edge where he found toiletries. They were all scented cherry blossoms. He squirted some of the shampoo into his hand and handed it over to Sakura. She took it and began to lather her hair. Gaara watched her with the same fascination he had when he had seen her bathing on the roof.

She smiled at him now, her skin soft and inviting. He blushed. He continued to scrub and stare at her. She smiled at him. The two were in a period of comfortable silence. They simply smiled at each other.

Gaara watched Sakura dunk her head beneath the water and shoot through the water like a siren. She smiled at him and he smiled back. Gaara got a bar of soap and a washcloth, “Sakura, do you want me to wash your back?”

She smiled at him, “Thank you,” she said. Sakura waded over to him and stood in front of him. The two passed the time like that. They got out after Sakura had finished washing his back. They clamored out, sluggish from the warm water. Gaara looked down at his long fingers and toes chuckling at how the water had wrinkled them. Sakura passed him a towel. He wrapped it around his waist and watched her sheath her body in an identical white towel.

Sakura led the way, Gaara holding their bundled clothes, back to her room. Gaara shut the door behind them. Sakura pulled out her white dress and undergarments. Gaara went to his bag to retrieve his usual black pants and shirt. He took out a heavy coat identical to the coat he had been wearing the day before. He smiled unconsciously.

He dressed and turned around to see Sakura toweling her hair. She was perfect. Dressed in white she was the paradigm of beauty. Gaara made a mental note to buy her an assortment of white dresses.

She looked up at him, the towel covering the right side of her face, “Are you going to talk to Tsunade today?” He nodded, “You go out for a walk or something. I’ll find you.” He kissed her forehead, “It shouldn’t take that long.” Sakura wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed his soft lips, “Alright, I’ll always wait for you.”






“Naruto,” whispered Tsunade, “Are you sure?”


Naruto grinned at Tsunade, “You bet, Grandma.” He rested his arms over his head, “Gaara’s going to marry Sakura, whether you like it or not.” Tsunade smiled and laughed, “About time.”

Naruto looked over at her, “This is good for everyone involved.” She nodded, “For both Suna and Konoha. And for everyone’s favorite couple. Sakura and Gaara are just perfect for each other.” Tsunade looked out her window at the afternoon sun, “How much longer do you think?”

Naruto heard soft footsteps stop outside the door, “I don’t think much longer; he’s here.”

Gaara opened the door and sheepishly looked about. He wore his gourd, unsure about whether Tsunade would attack him. He smiled at Tsunade, “Lady Tsunade.” Tsunade smiled at him, “Please, sit down, Gaara.” Gaara sat in the seat in front of her massive desk. Paperwork was strewn about in large piles. She pushed one aside and waved Naruto over. Naruto grinned at Gaara, “Go ahead.”

Gaara looked at Tsunade and stood up. He bowed politely and gracefully, “Lady Tsunade, please grant me permission to propose to Sakura. She’s the one I love and wish to marry.” He took a deep breath. He was afraid to bend up and look at Tsunade’s face.

He slowly came up. He kept his eyes closed. He stayed standing. He opened one eye warily and saw Tsunade with her mouth a serious line, “Please, sit down.” She looked him over carefully and stared at his controlled distress. She smiled inwardly.

“You can have my daughter’s hand in marriage on one condition, Kazekage,” Tsunade said solemnly. Gaara swallowed hard. He didn’t like the way she had suddenly referred to him so formally. It wasn’t like her. Regardless, he spoke confidently, “Yes, my Lady?”

“Gaara,” she said with affection, “promise me you’ll always take care of her. She’s dear to me, and so are you; I couldn’t bare it if anything happened to either of you. So, promise me you’ll protect Sakura with your life.”

Gaara smiled and let his held breath pass through his lips. Gaara smiled, “Of course.” Tsunade rose her hand, “Oh, there’s two more conditions, you must marry Sakura today and let me take care of everything.” She looked at him, a glint in her eyes. Naruto smiled at Gaara, “You better get going.”

Gaara grinned, taking Sakura’s ring and clutching it in his hand tightly. He couldn’t stop smiling. He ran out the door. Naruto smiled at Tsunade, “Suna and Konoha’s greatest conspiracy has finally succeeded.” Tsunade smile at Naruto, “It sure has, twerp.”

Naruto glared at her, “Don’t call me a twerp!” Tsunade barked back, “I’ll call you a ‘twerp’ if I want to! I don’t care! Even when you become Hokage I’ll call you a ‘twerp’! Twerp!” Naruto and Tsunade began to bicker, unable to see the dark shadow that flew from the Hokage’s open window and down the streets of Konoha.

It only stopped at the edge of the forest when it saw it finally found what it had been looking for.